Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

StPeir t1_iyd0qm8 wrote

Reply to comment by oldncrusty68 in Looking for a competent locksmith in southern maine near the lakes region. I have an antique car and the three I’ve tried closest to me really only know how to program smart keys. by oldncrusty68

Do you know if the original key was cut on one side or both? I’m not familiar enough with 60s fords but I assume the way you are described the bezel it’s similar to a Mortise cylinder just smaller. if it’s pinned on a single side ANY locksmith should be able to single pin pick and remove the core and repin the cylinder. You may even be able to do it yourself with a bump key.

If the key is double sided then it’s a wafer lock and a bit more complicated but if you have an idea what the key looked like (or if you are lucky) you may be able to do it with a set of auto key jigglers.

This is pretty easy stuff any locksmith should be able to do this. It’s literary one of the first things you learn. I suspect either they don’t want the job because they can’t charge you as much as a lockout/fob program or they are “automotive lock smiths” and don’t actually know how to open an actual lock.

3

OniExpress t1_iyd4m6n wrote

>1968 ford falcon

It's a wafer lock. Actually, car keys in the US are pretty much exclusively waver locks.

u/oldncrusty68 basically any auto locksmith should be able to pop that out in under 10 minutes. I've got wafer picks myself and it's basically child's play.

4

oldncrusty68 OP t1_iyd5u1j wrote

Yea it’s pretty frustrating for something that used to be so simple.

3

StPeir t1_iyd6pqr wrote

If there are any colleges nearby see if they have a lock sport club. I have never tried a wafer lock myself but everything I have read and seen they are pretty simple and you already have the lock hardware removed from the vehicle so it isn’t like they would have to worry about legality.

Someone out there will do it for free just for the experience probably

3

StPeir t1_iyd6gd2 wrote

That’s kind of what I thought. I knew wafer locks were pretty standard for most cars as far back as I can remember but I don’t think I have ever driven anything that old so wasn’t sure if it was something that started in the 70s

OP should look for a lock sport group. If the local locksmiths don’t want to do it I’m sure someone out there could handle it. I got into lock picking during Covid but never got any wafer picks. I guess I will add them to my Christmas list.

2

oldncrusty68 OP t1_iyd5ol2 wrote

I don’t have the original keys but from what I can see online it’s a two sided key.

1